Automatic sprinkler



(No Model.) 7

J. OLAPP.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

m M M 4 with 665 as UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH CLAPP, OF EVANSTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLAPP AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,864, dated November 4,1890. Application filed April 12, 1890. Serial No. 347,610. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH CLAPP, of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a sprinkler embodying the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of my improved sectional post employed in said sprinkler. Fig. 3 is a like view of said post as it appears in the act of separation. Fig. 4 is a trans verse sectional view taken upon the line y y, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of sectional post.

Corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The primary object of my invention is to construct a sectional post for automatic sprinklers, which may be made of sheet metal so thin as to render it exceedingly sensitive to the action of heat; secondly, to normally relieve the soldered joint from undue strain, and, finally, to obtain such a leverage of one part upon the other upon the fusing of the solder that a prying action may be obtained sufficient to insurea complete separation.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, a, Fig. 1, represents the usual tube or pipe of a fire-extinguishing sprinkler, which is connected with the distributing-pipes. b is the valve, 0 the sprinkler-frame, and d the deflector. Interposed between the deflector and valve or cap I), in the usual way, is my improved sectional post e, which consists, preferably, of two sheetmetal sections f g, arranged in a common plane, the one having a bearing-point f upon the valve and the other'a like bearing-point g against the frame, shoulders upon said sec tions to form an intermediate bearing upon each other, a secondary point or fulcrum upon one to serve as a pry upon the other in the act of separation of said sections, and a thin metal plate h, (shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) attached to the parts f g by means of fusible solder 'i, Fig. 4.. The main body of the part g is made somewhat wider than that of the part f, so as to form a'shoulderj, commencing at a line drawn through the axis thereof, as indicated by dots, and extending laterally therefrom,while a shoulder is is formed upon the section f, so as to constitute a counterpart to the shoulder j.

From the pivotal point or point of intersection of the shoulders is with the axis of the post, as above referred to, the part f is preferably cut away obliquely, as shown at f It is also, by preference, cut away obliquely at the top, as shown at f, Figs. 1,2, and 3. The part g is cut from the point of bearing upon the shoulder is, commencing at the axis of said post, at a more obtuse angle from said axis than that of the line f to a point 9 when the angle of the out is rendered still more obtuse, as shown at 9 The point g forms a secondary pivotal point or fulcrum, which in the act of separation of the parts bears upon the part f as shown in Fig. 3, and serves to throw the part f laterally and insure the complete separation of the parts. This I have found by actual experiment to be a valuable feature, as it insures the separation by a positive action, commencing as soon as the movement is initiated, while the soldered joint is normally relieved from undue strain.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of said construction, in which portions of the parts f and g, respectively adjacent to the axis of the post, are cut away to permit the insertion of a third element, consisting of a fiat plate Z, shorter than either of the parts f or g, and arranged in the same plane therewith. A shoulder j is formed upon said part Z, and also a depending part or tooth Z',which is adjacent to the lower portion of the part f and substantially in the line of the axis of the post. The lower end or shoulder of the part Z bears upon the shoulder of the part f, while the upper portion of the part 9 rests upon the top of said part Z. Upon the separation of the sections the part I bears laterally against the partf, and, serving as a pry against the latter, tends to facilitate the act of separation in a manner similar to the action of the part 9 in the construction first 1. The combination, with the cap and frame 7 of an automatic fire-extinguishing sprinkler, of asectional post consisting of sheet-metal plates arranged in the same plane, counterpart shoulders formed therein, extending laterally from the axis of the post and bearing upon each other, a secondary bearing-point upon one of said sections, arranged to bear laterally against the adjacent section, and a thin metal plate secured to said sections by means of fusible solder, substantially as shown tinguishing sprinklers, the combination of the sect-ions f g, having shoulders 70 j,respectively, cut-away portion f upon the part f, secondary bearing-point 9 upon the part g, and plate It, secured to said sections by means of fusible solder, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of April, 1890.

JOSEPH OLAPP.

WVitnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, J. HALPENNY. 

